Did the Navy Yard shooter try to buy an AR-15?

posted at 9:21 am on September 18, 2013 by Ed Morrissey

That’s what the New York Times reported yesterday, after gun-control demagoguesin the media had to at least partially retract their claims that the shooter used an AR-15 to murder 12 people. It took them several hours to acknowledge the FBI’s report that no AR-15 was used at all in the crime, nor did the shooter have one in his possession. According to “law enforcement sources” talking to the Times, Aaron Alexis got turned down in his attempt to buy a so-called assault weapon:

The suspect in the killing of 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday test-fired an AR-15 assault rifle at a Virginia gun store last week but was stopped from buying one because state law there prohibits the sale of such weapons to out-of-state buyers, according to two senior law enforcement officials.

Instead, the suspect, Aaron Alexis of Texas, bought a law-enforcement-style shotgun — an 870 Remington pump-action — and used it on Monday as he rampaged through the navy yard, said the officials, who requested anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

Emily Miller of the Washington Times dispensed with law-enforcement sources and spoke directly to the store that sold Alexis the shotgun. She found that the shooter passed two background checks and bought a shotgun with a small amount of ammunition, but never attempted to purchase an AR-15, or any kind of rifle or pistol either:

Aaron Alexis passed Federal Bureau Investigation and Virginia state background checks to purchase a shotgun from Sharpshooters Small Arms Range in Lorton, Va., over the weekend.

Alexis did not attempt to purchase a rifle or handgun from the store, The Washington Times has learned exclusively.

Furthermore, contra the Paper of Record, no such law in Virginia would have prevented the sale of an AR-15 to an out-of-state purchaser that passes those background checks:

The first line says: “The gunman who killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday test fired an AR-15 assault rifle at a Virginia gun store last week but was stopped from buying one because state law there prohibits the sale of such weapons to out-of-state buyers, according to two senior law enforcement officials.”

Apparently neither the reporter nor his editors took the time to fact check their vague “law enforcement officials” sources.

“Virginia law does not prohibit the sale of assault rifles to out-of-state citizens who have proper identification,” Dan Peterson, a Virginia firearms attorney, told me Tuesday night. The required identification is proof of residency in another state and of U.S. citizenship, which can be items like a passport, birth certificate or voter identification card.

Miller writes that federal law is also clear on this point:

Federal law is clear on this residency issue. A quick glance at the ATF website would have informed the New York Times journalists that a person may buy a rifle or shotgun, in person, at a federal firearms licensee’s premises in any state, provided the sale complies with state laws, which it would in this case.

Perhaps they were confused with the federal law on handguns, which can only be sold or transferred through dealers in the same state as the buyer.

Perhaps the media might try a little fact-checking before reporting, especially in its news sections. Of course, for media outlets like the New York Times, accuracy is often secondary to pushing the narrative.

Aaron Alexis, the man police say killed 12 people Monday at the Washington Navy Yard, went to a gun store and shooting range in suburban Northern Virginia the day before, an attorney for the shop has told NPR.

The Remington 870 is the most popular shotgun of all time. Millions have been sold worldwide. I wonder what in particular made this a “law enforcement style” shotgun instead of a sporting style shotgun.

I have a semi-automatic tactical 12 gauge that looks like an assault weapon and can testify that it is far more dangerous than a standard 12 gauge semi-auto shotgun. It’s the collapsing stock and pistol grip that make it so dangerous. I swear!

The networks already the neato CGI of the guy using a “assault” rifle already made. You can’t just expect them to create new images just for the sake of accuracy. There are narratives to push, you gunloving wingnuts.

I have a semi-automatic tactical 12 gauge that looks like an assault weapon and can testify that it is far more dangerous than a standard 12 gauge semi-auto shotgun. It’s the collapsing stock and pistol grip that make it so dangerous. I swear!

Correct Sir, but when I bought one it was described as a Home Protection model. It is no mor dangerous than any other 12 gauge, in fact it has less of an impact except at close range due to the short barrel.

He probably killed more people with the shotgun than he could have with an AR. Pump gun with an extended magazine to hold 8, instead of the usual 5, rounds (which is likely the “law enforcement” style, larger mag capacity), and buckshot (large pellets, as opposed to smaller bird shot) is a devastating weapon, especially fired into a crowd. One shot could hit multiple people, even without careful aiming.

You probably already know about this but she did a series of articles about what it took for her to get a gun in D.C., what a nightmare and everything you could imagine from that little slice of bureaucratic heaven.

Forget about the type of weapon. I’m waiting for the ‘NY Times’ to identify the shooter as a ‘white black’ and that we have to have total gun control to keep the nation safe from these “white” “evil doers”.

If he were a “Halfrican American” like Obama they’d probably find a way to blame his white half. They’d try to find out if his white parent were a conservative, a Southerner, an NRA member, or had committed some other such sin that would have caused his white half to want to kill people.

Maybe they’d report the voices in his head as his black half trying to talk his white half out of killing.

If he were a “Halfrican American” like Obama they’d probably find a way to blame his white half. They’d try to find out if his white parent were a conservative, a Southerner, an NRA member, or had committed some other such sin that would have caused his white half to want to kill people.

Maybe they’d report the voices in his head as his black half trying to talk his white half out of killing.

The Remington 870 is the most popular shotgun of all time. Millions have been sold worldwide. I wonder what in particular made this a “law enforcement style” shotgun instead of a sporting style shotgun.

I did some research on past mass shootings and the only time an AR 15 type weapon was used (VaTech,Giffords, Aurora, & Newtown) was Newtown, CT. What was the common weapon of choice though was a 9mm handgun in all of them. The Navy Yard no exception as the victims weapons were used for further carnage. The other common point in these is that every one of these perpetrators was nuts. Given the recent scandal involving Ed Snowden and the NSA, I think it’s time to review our procedures for granting security clearances and background checks. Something is really amiss here.

You probably already know about this but she did a series of articles about what it took for her to get a gun in D.C., what a nightmare and everything you could imagine from that little slice of bureaucratic heaven.

Cindy Munford on September 18, 2013 at 9:54 AM

I think that her point was that, beyond cosmetics, there is no serious functional difference. Much like the media’s and politicians’ specious labeling of many semi-automatic rifles as “assault weapons” based primarily on appearances.
I was supporting her point with a lame attempt at satire or irony or whatever .

If he were a “Halfrican American” like Obama they’d probably find a way to blame his white half. They’d try to find out if his white parent were a conservative, a Southerner, an NRA member, or had committed some other such sin that would have caused his white half to want to kill people.

Maybe they’d report the voices in his head as his black half trying to talk his white half out of killing.

But I’m just projecting. The MSM wouldn’t sink that low.

Charlemagne on September 18, 2013 at 10:05 AM

The headline story on Drudge (from NBC) is already pushing the narrative that he “wasn’t happy with America”. So now anyone who isn’t happy with everything the U.S. is doing is going to be vilified. They are trying their best to spin this to make it look like it’s connected to people who are against Obama and the Democrats some way.

Given the recent scandal involving Ed Snowden and the NSA, I think it’s time to review our procedures for granting security clearances and background checks. Something is really amiss here.

Boats48 on September 18, 2013 at 10:10 AM

What’s primarily amiss is this ridiculous notion that we can put our faith in the government to protect us. That is why we have allowed ourselves to be disarmed in so many places as it is. First and foremost make sure people are allowed to defend themselves, and then worry about keeping the nutjobs out. Because the government will always fail to protect us in one way or another.

I wasn’t questioning your remark, just wondered if you knew her background on the issue. The series is really really good. Your point about the aesthetics being a driver in the banning issue is on the spot but isn’t it odd that mental illness continues to be over looked? I can’t decide if it is because it hits too close to their own homes or they just haven’t found a way to use it as a massive gun grabbing tool. Time will tell.

The kneejerk, whack-a-mole, reaction to gun control by the left is as predictable as sunrise.

Glen Beck’s title for his book was spot on – Arguing with Idiots. Bottom-line, this debate with the left is rather useless. Since shame won’t work on shameless people, better to stop them at the polls in all elections – local, state, and federal. Boycott the news media that panders to the left and stop supporting companies that choose to offend half their customers by stepping into the culture wars.

“The whole aim of practical politics/(media) is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.” Menchen

coupled with that,

“Rational arguments based upon ample evidence will not change the minds of irrational people.”

WOW. Common Core is a bad deal, really bad that is sneaking right under the radar. Of course, you know that, and most here do too. However, the majority have either no idea, no understanding or just don’t care.

isn’t it odd that mental illness continues to be over looked? I can’t decide if it is because it hits too close to their own homes or they just haven’t found a way to use it as a massive gun grabbing tool. Time will tell.

Cindy Munford on September 18, 2013 at 10:18 AM

Probably both!
I have no doubt that they’ll find some way to do a disservice to both the severely mentally ill and to law abiding gun owners.
It’s what they do.

I did some research on past mass shootings and the only time an AR 15 type weapon was used (VaTech,Giffords, Aurora, & Newtown) was Newtown, CT. What was the common weapon of choice though was a 9mm handgun in all of them. The Navy Yard no exception as the victims weapons were used for further carnage. The other common point in these is that every one of these perpetrators was nuts. Given the recent scandal involving Ed Snowden and the NSA, I think it’s time to review our procedures for granting security clearances and background checks. Something is really amiss here.

Boats48 on September 18, 2013 at 10:10 AM

A story today indicates that Alexis was on psychiatric medications. That’s seems to be the case with all of these active shooters. The media never reports that fact though.

kjatexas on September 18, 2013 at 10:33 AM

Yep, and I believe you will find that all on Boats48’s list were on psychotropics as well. The use of these drugs and their connections to violent crime is regularly covered up in the liberal media.

The District of Columbia has some of the toughest gun restrictions in the US, then add this:

“In 1993, Clinton issued an order banning guns from US military bases.

Excepting military police and troops shooting under supervision at practice ranges, no person (regardless of rank) is today allowed to carry any weapon (including standard service pistols) onto any US military base or to keep any weapon, even stored securely, in his office or personal quarters.

Prior to that order, officers of certain ranks were required to wear side arms.”

The District of Columbia has some of the toughest gun restrictions in the US, then add this:

Viator on September 18, 2013 at 10:55

Clearly that isn’t true. The District of Columbia has some of the most restictive gun regulations on the books. But the WNY massacre shows that these regulations are only for the law-abiding. They don’t restrict guns in the District.

Keep in mind a few blocks away there was another incident where a guy was shot in the face about the same time as the WNY massacre. Turns out that this particular incident was just another Monday on the streets of DC.

Aaron Alexis tried to buy assault rifle but was unable to
September 18, 2013 7:26 AM
Washington Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis tried to buy an AR-15 assault rifle at a Virginia gun store last week after test firing one, but the store wouldn’t sell it to him right away, CBS News has learned.
[…]
It is also unclear whether the owner of Sharpshooters Small Arms Range in Lorton, Virginia, where Alexis tried to buy the AR-15 about 15 miles from the Navy Yard, told Alexis he was not allowed to buy an assault rifle, or whether Alexis was simply impatient and decided to buy a shotgun instead.
[…]

“It is also unclear…”. You’d think CBS would have called the store and asked, like Emily Miller did.

You forget, with the MSM – “the facts are what we say they are” AND “if we don’t report it, it didn’t happen!”

GarandFan on September 18, 2013 at 11:14 AM

Yeah turns out the shooter was a Bush-hater, Obama-lover, angry black man with a sense of being wronged by society (not unlike an HA troll I could name). You don’t hear the media talk about that the way they would had the shooter been wearing a “Don’t Tread on Me” T-shirt and had a Romney/Ryan bumper sticker on his car.

Even our minority killers get affirmative action preference. Just sayin’

Aaron Alexis tried to buy assault rifle but was unable to
September 18, 2013 7:26 AM
Washington Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis tried to buy an AR-15 assault rifle at a Virginia gun store last week after test firing one, but the store wouldn’t sell it to him right away, CBS News has learned.
[…]
It is also unclear whether the owner of Sharpshooters Small Arms Range in Lorton, Virginia, where Alexis tried to buy the AR-15 about 15 miles from the Navy Yard, told Alexis he was not allowed to buy an assault rifle, or whether Alexis was simply impatient and decided to buy a shotgun instead.
[…]

“It is also unclear…”. You’d think CBS would have called the store and asked, like Emily Miller did.

Xiphos on September 18, 2013 at 11:19 AM

The process to buy my AK was the same as it was when I bought by two shotguns. Same paperwork, and same state and federal background check, same amount of time. I am a VA resident, so it may have been that his out of state residency had something to do with that. Maybe.

heh. I forwarded the link to the Wash Times story to Ed yesterday. Probably wasn’t the only one.

The cheapest AR-15 type rifles are selling for close to a grand. An 870 in police trim is less than half that amount. While the 870 is arguably a better choice for CQB, the choice in this case may have boiled down to the cost.

The Remington 870 is the most popular shotgun of all time. Millions have been sold worldwide. I wonder what in particular made this a “law enforcement style” shotgun instead of a sporting style shotgun.

mchristian on September 18, 2013 at 9:30 AM

The 870 is sold in various forms, all with the same basic design. It’s a very versatile firearm. I have one, and with 4 different barrels, two different stocks, and a magazine extension, it can serve for duck hunting, upland game, deer hunting, and a home defense gun.

Blue Ridge is awesome, and the staff there is also extremely professional. Bought my S&W 686 there a couple of years ago. But I don’t have a car, so I can’t get out that way very easily.

Their range is fantastic! I will go there or the NRA HQ range. When it gets cooler I may try out the outdoor range at Bull Run park. I have found that the majority of their rifles are already modified with all the bells and whistles, and the prices reflect that. Bought three of my four guns from a relatively new gun store in downtown Herndon. Great staff, btw. Bought the handgun at Quantico Tactical.

Their range is fantastic! I will go there or the NRA HQ range. When it gets cooler I may try out the outdoor range at Bull Run park. I have found that the majority of their rifles are already modified with all the bells and whistles, and the prices reflect that. Bought three of my four guns from a relatively new gun store in downtown Herndon. Great staff, btw. Bought the handgun at Quantico Tactical.

RandallinHerndon on September 18, 2013 at 12:06 PM

Hmm, interesting. I’m noting all your recommendations here, so thanks for those. I’ve heard great things about the NRA range. Is that open to the general public? I thought you had to work for the NRA, or be involved in an NRA program, to use it.

These same maroons, in their rush to break the story reported 1) the wrong weapons, 2) the wrong suspect, 3) the wrong number of suspects, etc etc etc. NOW, they want me to believe the suspect ‘tried’ to buy an AR-15. Yeah, so? A deranged man with ‘criminal intent’ breaks the law purchasing an automatic weapon–illegally-mind you.

I thought you had to work for the NRA, or be involved in an NRA program, to use it.

Absolutly not. It is open to the general public. Before they let you shoot, you need to take a general firearms knowledge test, and once you pass that they give you a range card. I have no preference as they are both high quality ranges, but I’ll go to the NRA is Blue Ridge is having a class on one of their ranges and only have the lanes are available.

Haha, I saw a lib on HuffPo last night call the 870 a “riot gun–there’s a reason prison guards use them!!!” as if they’re uniquely dangerous. A few of them are dumb enough to try to ginning up outrage over a shotgun, but I don’t think it’ll fly.

The interesting thing about this incident is that the gun-grabbers like Piers Morgan had everything their way: Gun-free zone, fenced-in with guards at the gate, no concealed carry, no semi-automatic, no “assault weapon” used, no high-capacity magazines, only a “sporting” firearm, licensed gun dealer, background check done, etc.

All the rules they tell us are “common sense” and will stop these incidents, and yet 12 people are dead. The gun control laws all failed exactly the way gun rights people said they would.

Not that facts or reality will change any of their minds, but the next time you hear someone tell you that we need a stronger gun control law, ask them specifically what they’re talking about, and then apply the Washington Navy Yard test to it.

But can someone answer…
In VA, is there zero difference in the requirements for an out of stater to purchase a shotgun vs. an ‘assault firearm’?
In other words, having been approved to purchase the shotgun, is there then nothing that would have prevented him buying an “assault firearm”?.

(From Wash Times article:

The Commonwealth defines “assault firearm” as any semiautomatic centerfire rifle or pistol with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds or can accommodate a silencer or is equipped with a folding stock.

Just including that to save me lectures on what an assault weapon is or isn’t – just assume based on VA’s definition.)

My understanding of the laws is that, if Aaron Alexis resided in Washington D.C., the Virginia shop would not sell the AR to him if it was illegal to own in that jurisdiction. (And I believe it is.) That’s federal firearms law, not Virginia’s.

Regarding the definition of “assault weapon”, it is a legal term, dreamed up by politicians.

I had a discussion with a Boston City council tool once. She had referred to an SKS rifle as an “assault weapon”, and I pointed out that even under the silly legal definition the so-called “Assautl Weapons Ban” it didn’t qualify. She snottily responded that it was indeed an “assault weapon” because the Boston ordinance declared it to be one.

I pointed out that they could also pass an ordinance that defined horses to be cows, but that wouldn’t mean horses were cows. I then asked her if they passed an ordinance that defined beer as urine whether she and her colleagues begin quaffing pi$$.

Yes, all very very nice, and Winchester, well, the name says it all. Winchester = Quality. Been very impressed with the Mossberg 500. Got one of their new Grand Slam Turkey series 12-GA for hunting. Can’t wait to nab me some gobblers.

So Alexis was a you angry black man disillusioned with America, a troother, and his anger was precipitated into action by the Obama regime’s constant theme that young black men are owed something by the government.